Exterior body side sill molding attachment for a motor vehicle and related method

Abstract

A body side sill molding attachment for a motor vehicle includes a main body portion, first flange and a second flange. The first flange upwardly extends and includes a plurality of ribs adapted to frictionally engage an inboard side of a downwardly extending flange of a motor vehicle sill. The second flange longitudinally extends along an upper edge of the main body portion and includes a plurality of apertures adapted to align with a corresponding plurality of slots provided in the motor vehicle sill. Each of the apertures and associated slots are adapted to align and receive a mechanical fastener for securing an upper edge of the body side sill molding attachment to the vehicle. A preferred method of attaching the body side sill molding attachment to the motor vehicle includes the general step of engaging the ribs of the first flange with the rear side of the downwardly extending sill flange, rotating the body side sill molding attachment about a longitudinally extending axis, abutting the second flange with the motor vehicle sill, and securing the second flange to the motor vehicle sill.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of attaching an exterior body side sill molding member to a vehicle having a sill with a vertically extending flange and a plurality of slots, the method comprising the steps of: providing a one-piece body side sill molding member, said member including a body portion having first and second edges, said first edge including a longitudinally extending flange, said flange including a plurality of spaced ribs extending substantially perpendicular to its length, said second edge defining a plurality of openings to receive a corresponding plurality of fasteners;   engaging said longitudinally extending flange with said vertically extending flank;   rotating said member upward about the vertically extending flange; and   securing an upper edge of said member to said body panel.   
     
     
       2. The method of attaching an exterior body side sill molding member to a vehicle panel of claim 1, wherein said step of securing an upper edge of said body panel to the vehicle panel includes the steps of: providing an plurality of fasteners; and   interconnecting said upper edge to the vehicle panel with said plurality of fasteners.   
     
     
       3. The method of attaching an exterior body side sill molding member to a vehicle panel of claim 2, wherein said step of interconnecting said upper edge to the vehicle panel with said plurality of fasteners includes the steps of: providing a plurality of apertures in said upper edge; and   passing each of said fasteners partially through an associated one of said apertures.   
     
     
       4. The method of attaching an exterior body side sill molding member to a vehicle panel of claim 3, wherein the step of rotating said member upward about the vertically extending flange includes the step of abutting the vehicle panel with said upper edge. 
     
     
       5. The method of attaching an exterior body side sill molding member to a vehicle panel of claim 4, wherein said step of rotating said member upward about the vertically extending flange includes the step of elastically deforming said body portion. 
     
     
       6. The method of attaching an exterior body side sill molding member to a vehicle panel of claim 1, wherein said step of engaging said longitudinally extending flange includes the step of abutting an inner side of the vertically extending flange with said plurality of spaced ribs. 
     
     
       7. A vehicle comprising: a body side sill including a downwardly extending flange having an inner side;   a one-piece body side sill molding member including an upper edge and a lower edge, said lower edge being in engagement with an inner side of said downwardly extending flange and including a plurality of spaced apart ribs abutting said inner side of said downwardly extending flange, said upper edge abutting said body side sill; and   means for attached said upper edge to said body side sill.   
     
     
       8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said means for attaching said upper edge to said body side sill comprises a plurality of fasteners and further wherein said body side sill includes corresponding plurality of slots each receiving an associated one of said fasteners. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein said one-piece body side sill molding includes a corresponding plurality of apertures each receiving an associated one of said fasteners. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein said plurality of apertures are horizontally aligned adjacent an upper edge of said molding member. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle of claim 7, further comprising at least one end portion extending In a lateral direction from the one-piece body side sill molding member. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said molding member is unitarily constructed of a flexible plastic material. 
     
     
       13. An exterior body side sill molding attachment system for a motor vehicle including a body side sill with a downwardly extending flange, the attachment adapted to encapsulate the sill, the attachment comprising: a one-piece body side sill molding member including an upper edge and a lower edge, said lower edge being adapted to engage an inner side of said downwardly extending flange and including a plurality of spaced apart ribs adapted to abut said inner side of said downwardly extending flange, said upper edge adapted to abut said body side sill; and   means for attaching said upper edge to said body side sill.   
     
     
       14. The exterior body side sill molding attachment system for a motor vehicle of claim 13, wherein said means for attaching said upper edge to said body side sill comprises a plurality of fasteners and further wherein said body side sill includes corresponding plurality of slots each receiving an associated one of said fasteners. 
     
     
       15. The exterior body side sill molding attachment system for a motor vehicle of claim 14, wherein said one-piece body side sill molding includes a corresponding plurality of apertures each receiving an associated one of said fasteners. 
     
     
       16. The exterior body side sill molding attachment system for a motor vehicle of claim 15, wherein said plurality of apertures are horizontally aligned adjacent an upper edge of said molding member. 
     
     
       17. The exterior body side sill molding attachment for a motor vehicle of claim 13, further comprising at least one end portion extending in a lateral direction from the one-piece body side sill molding member. 
     
     
       18. The exterior body side sill molding attachment system for a motor vehicle of claim 13, wherein said molding member is unitarily constructed of a flexible plastic material.